US4917746A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for contouring elastic ribbon on disposable garments
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 1984-06-18
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Granted: 1990-04-17
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Expires: 2004-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for applying an elastic ribbon in a curved path to a continuously moving web of material. A rotatable roll is moved essentially transversely to the direction of the moving web of material. The movement of the roll is imparted to the elastic ribbon which is then adhered to the continuously moving web of material. The elastic ribbon passes around the roll with a predetermined stretch. The axis of the roll may be disposed essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the moving web or essentially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the moving web. The roll may be cylindrical in shape with a uniform radius, it may have a nonuniform radius or it may have a portion of the surface with a larger radius intermediate to the ends of the roll.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugo L. Kons
- 👤 Richard H. Frick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15577; A61F13/15585; A61F13/15593; A61F13/15609; B; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/22; B29C66/221; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/433; B29C66/47; B29C66/472; B29C66/4722; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/83413; B29C66/83415; B29C65/00; B29C65/48; B29C65/4805; B29C65/481; B29C65/4815; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/48; B29L2031/4871; B29L2031/4878; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1015; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1702; Y10T156/1712; Y10T156/1722; Y10T156/1727; Y10T156/1739
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for applying a continuous, moving ribbon of elastic material to a moving web of material, comprising the steps of: rotatably mounting at least one receiving roll about an axis essentially perpendicular to the surface of the web; continuously moving the web in a direction coinciding with its length; simultaneously moving and applying tension to the elastic ribbon in the direction of its length around a circumferential surface of the receiving roll; oscillating said receiving roll in a direction essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the web while the ribbon is contacting said circumferential surface, imparting a coefficient of friction such that the friction of said surface with the ribbon and the tension of the ribbon together provide sufficient force on the ribbon to move the ribbon around said surface and slidingly along said rotational axis of said receiving roll in an oscillatory manner with the oscillatory motion of said receiving roll, said receiving roll being of a sufficient length to contain the axial travel of the ribbon thereacross; feeding the oscillating ribbon into engagement with the web in an undulating pattern and adhering the ribbon thereto.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for applying a continuous, moving ribbon of elastic material to a moving web of material, comprising the steps of: rotatably mounting at least one receiving roll about an axis essentially perpendicular to the surface of the web; continuously moving the web in a direction coinciding with its length; simultaneously moving and applying tension to the elastic ribbon in the direction of its length around a circumferential surface of the receiving roll; oscillating said receiving roll in a direction essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the web while the ribbon is contacting said circumferential surface, imparting a coefficient of friction such that the friction of said surface with the ribbon and the tension of the ribbon together provide sufficient force on the ribbon to move the ribbon around said surface and slidingly along said rotational axis of said receiving roll in an oscillatory manner with the oscillatory motion of said receiving roll, said receiving roll being of a sufficient length to contain the axial travel of the ribbon thereacross; feeding the oscillating ribbon into engagement with the web in an undulating pattern and adhering the ribbon thereto.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for applying a continuous moving ribbon of elastic material to a moving web of material, comprising: means for continuously moving the web in a direction coinciding with its length; at least one receiving roll for receiving the elastic ribbon, said roll being rotatably mounted about an axis essentially perpendicular to the surface of the web; oscillatory means for imparting oscillatory movement to said roll in a direction essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the web; means for moving the elastic ribbon in the direction of its length; and means for applying tension to the ribbon while the ribbon is moving around said oscillatory roll; said oscillatory roll having a circumferential surface engaging the ribbon, said surface having a coefficient of friction such that the friction of said surface with the ribbon and the tension in the ribbon together provide sufficient force on the ribbon to move the ribbon around said circumference and along said rotational axis of said receiving roll in an oscillatory manner with the oscillatory motion of said receiving roll, said roll being of a sufficient length to contain the oscillatory travel of the ribbon longitudinally across the circumference thereof; and engagement means for bringing the oscillating ribbon and the web into engagement with one another.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for applying a continuous moving ribbon of elastic material to a moving web of material, comprising: means for continuously moving the web in a direction coinciding with its length; at least one receiving roll for receiving the elastic ribbon, said roll being rotatably mounted about an axis essentially perpendicular to the surface of the web; oscillatory means for imparting oscillatory movement to said roll in a direction essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the web; means for moving the elastic ribbon in the direction of its length; and means for applying tension to the ribbon while the ribbon is moving around said oscillatory roll; said oscillatory roll having a circumferential surface engaging the ribbon, said surface having a coefficient of friction such that the friction of said surface with the ribbon and the tension in the ribbon together provide sufficient force on the ribbon to move the ribbon around said circumference and along said rotational axis of said receiving roll in an oscillatory manner with the oscillatory motion of said receiving roll, said roll being of a sufficient length to contain the oscillatory travel of the ribbon longitudinally across the circumference thereof; and engagement means for bringing the oscillating ribbon and the web into engagement with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said axis of said roll is essentially transverse to said direction of movement of said web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein said roll has a circumferential surface area in contact with said elastic ribbon, said surface area having a coefficient of friction whereby said coefficient of friction, said surface area and said predetermined tension provide a sufficient force to transfer said transverse movement from said roll to said elastic ribbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said axis of said roll is essentially perpendicular to said direction of movement of said web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 4 or 5, wherein said means for applying a predetermined tension comprises means for providing a predetermined stretch to said elastic ribbon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for providing a predetermined stretch to said elastic ribbon comprises: a first pair of rolls rotating at a first speed, upstream from said roll, through which said elastic ribbon constrictively passes; a second pair of rolls rotating at a second speed, disposed downstream from said roll, through which said elastic ribbon constrictively passes; and wherein said second speed is greater than said first speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 1 or 7, wherein said means for attaching said elastic ribbon to said continuously moving web comprises: means for contacting said elastic ribbon, after passing around said roll, with said continuously moving web; and means for adhering said elastic ribbon to said continuously moving web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for contacting said elastic ribbon with said continuously moving web comprises said second pair of rolls wherein said elastic ribbon and said continuously moving web are simultaneously passed through said second pair of rolls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for adhering said elastic ribbon to said continuously moving web comprises said elastic ribbon having pressure sensitive adhesive properties.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 10, wherein said elastic ribbon comprises an extruded elastic ribbon and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for extruding said extruded elastic ribbon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for exerting pressure to said elastic ribbon and said continuously moving web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein said means for exerting pressure to said elastic ribbon and said continuously moving web comprise said second pair of rolls wherein said second pair of rolls are spaced at a distance apart whereby the simultaneous constrictively passing through of said elastic ribbon and said continuously moving web activates said pressure sensitive adhesive properties of said elastic ribbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for adhering said elastic ribbon to said continuously moving web comprises means for applying an adhesive to said elastic ribbon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 14, wherein said adhesive is a hot melt adhesive and said means for adhering further comprises chilling means for chilling said continuously moving web.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for applying said hot melt adhesive is upstream of said roll and downstream of said first pair of rolls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 16, wherein said chilling means comprises one of said second pair of rolls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 16, further comprising means for causing said continuously moving web to contact said chilling means prior to contacting said elastic ribbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 1 or 18, wherein said roll comprises a roll having a cylindrical surface, first and second ends and a uniform radius between said first and second ends.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 1 or 18, wherein said roll comprises a roll having a cylindrical surface, first and second ends and a nonuniform radius between said first and second ends.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 20, wherein said nonuniform radius comprises a first radius adjacent to said first and second ends and a second radius intermediate said first and second ends.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 21, wherein said second radius is greater than said first radius.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 1 or 22, wherein said means for imparting movement to said roll comprises means for imparting a curved line path to said elastic ribbon relative to said continuously moving web.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 1 or 22, wherein said means for imparting movement to said roll comprises means for imparting an undulating path to said elastic ribbon relative to said continuously moving web.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus, as recited in claim 1 or 22, wherein said means for imparting movement to said roll comprises means for imparting an oscillating path to said elastic ribbon relative to said continuously moving web.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for applying an elastic ribbon in a curved line path to a surface of a web of material, comprising the steps of: continuously moving the web of material in a direction coinciding with its length; imparting movement to a single roll which is rotatable about its axis, wherein the movement is essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the web of material and wherein the transverse movement is parallel to the surface of the web; passing an elastic ribbon around the single roll whereby the transverse movement of the roll is imparted to the elastic ribbon; and attaching the elastic ribbon to the surface of the web of material.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for applying an elastic ribbon in a curved line path to a surface of a web of material, comprising the steps of: continuously moving the web of material in a direction coinciding with its length; imparting movement to a single roll which is rotatable about its axis, wherein the movement is essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the web of material and wherein the transverse movement is parallel to the surface of the web; passing an elastic ribbon around the single roll whereby the transverse movement of the roll is imparted to the elastic ribbon; and attaching the elastic ribbon to the surface of the web of material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method, as recited in claim 26, wherein the axis of the roll is disposed essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the continuously moving web.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method, as recited in claim 26, wherein the axis of the roll is disposed essentially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the continuously moving web.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method, as recited in claim 27 or 28, wherein the step of passing an elastic ribbon around the roll further comprises the step of applying a predetermined tension to the elastic ribbon while the elastic ribbon is passing around the roll.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method, as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of applying a predetermined tension to the elastic ribbon comprises applying a predetermined stretch to the elastic ribbon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method, as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of applying a predetermined stretch to said elastic ribbon comprises the steps of: constrictively passing the elastic ribbon through a first pair of rolls rotating at a first speed, upstream from the roll; constrictively passing the elastic ribbon through a second pair of rolls rotating at a second speed, downstream from the roll; and wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method, as recited in claim 31, further comprising the steps of rotating the second pair of rolls at a speed relative to the first set of rolls whereby the stretch of the elastic ribbon is essentially 100%.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 26 or 32, wherein the step of attaching the elastic ribbon to the continuously moving web, comprises the steps of: contacting the elastic ribbon, after passing around the roll, with the continuously moving web; and adhering the elastic ribbon to the continuously moving web.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method, as recited in claim 33, wherein the step of contacting the elastic ribbon with the continuously moving web is accomplished by simultaneously constrictively passing the elastic ribbon and the continuously moving web through the second pair of rolls.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, as recited in claim 34, wherein the step of adhering the elastic ribbon to the continuously moving web is accomplished by providing an elastic ribbon with pressure sensitive adhesive properties.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method, as recited in claim 35, wherein the step of providing an elastic ribbon with pressure sensitive adhesive properties is accomplished by providing an extruded elastic ribbon with pressure sensitive adhesive properties.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as recited in claim 36, further comprising the step of exerting pressure on the elastic ribbon and continuously moving web sufficient to activate the pressure sensitive adhesive properties of the elastic ribbon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, as recited in claim 36, wherein the step of exerting pressure is accomplished by simultaneously constrictively passing the elastic ribbon and continuously moving web through the second pair of rolls.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method, as recited in claim 34, wherein the step of adhering the elastic ribbon to the continuously moving web comprises the step of applying an adhesive to the elastic ribbon.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method, as recited in claim 39, wherein the step of applying an adhesive comprises the step of applying a hot melt adhesive to the elastic ribbon.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as recited in claim 40, further comprising the step of chilling the continuously moving web.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method, as recited in claim 40, wherein the step of applying the adhesive to the elastic ribbon is accomplished by applying the adhesive upstream of the roll and downstream of the first pair of rolls.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method, as recited in claim 42, wherein the step of chilling the continuously moving web is accomplished by chilling the continuously moving web before the step of contacting with the elastic ribbon is accomplished.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method, as recited in claim 43, wherein the roll comprises a cylindrically shaped roll with first and second ends and a uniform radius between the first and second ends.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method, as recited in claim 43, wherein the roll comprises a cylindrically shaped roll with first and second ends and a nonuniform radius between the first and second ends.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method, as recited in claim 43, wherein the roll comprises a cylindrically shaped roll with first and second ends and a first radius adjacent to the first and second ends and a second radius intermediate the first and second ends.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as recited in claim 46, wherein the second radius is greater than the first radius.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method, as recited in claim 26, 44, 45 or 47 wherein the step of imparting movement to a roll is accomplished by imparting a curved line path to the elastic ribbon relative to the continuously moving web.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method, as recited in claim 26, 44, 45 or 47, wherein the step of imparting movement to a roll is accomplished by imparting an undulating path to the elastic ribbon relative to the continuously moving web.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method, as recited in claim 26, 44, 45 or 47, wherein the step of imparting movement to a roll is accomplished by imparting an oscillating path to the elastic ribbon relative to the continuously moving web.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |